Cyrus Flipflops Over Photo Spread

MILEY Cyrus (picture) is taking issue with a photo of herself that’s going around, and it’s not another amateur, truth-or-dare Internet snapshot – it’s the handiwork of Annie Leibovitz.

“I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be `artistic’ and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed,” Cyrus said in a statement through her publicist.

“I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologise to my fans who I care so deeply about.”

The photos, appearing in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, were taken by Leibovitz, a renowned celebrity photographer whose edgy, silver-toned portraits have included subjects such as Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and a naked, pregnant Demi Moore.

The Cyrus pictures accompany an interview with the 15-year-old pop star and her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus. They include shots of the teen wrapped in what appears to be a satin bedsheet, looking over her shoulder with her back exposed.

The Disney Channel, which airs Cyrus’ TV show Hannah Montana, was also critical of Vanity Fair.

“Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines,” a network statement said.

A phone message left for a Vanity Fair representative was not immediately returned on Sunday night. But in a statement to the TV show Entertainment Tonight, Vanity Fair defended its position.

“Miley’s parents and/or minders were on the set all day,” the magazine said.

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